H.R. 2556

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2556 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2556

To enhance national security and energy independence through 
comprehensive offshore energy resource assessment and mapping, to 
establish a framework for the regular review and standardization of 
offshore resource exploration methodologies, and for related purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 1, 2025

Mr. Hunt introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on 
Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To enhance national security and energy independence through 
comprehensive offshore energy resource assessment and mapping, to 
establish a framework for the regular review and standardization of 
offshore resource exploration methodologies, and for related purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Offshore Resource 
Enhancement Act of 2025'' or the ``CORE Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT OF OFFSHORE ENERGY RESOURCES AND RESERVES.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Exploration; development, production.--The terms 
``exploration'', ``development'', and ``production'' have the 
meanings given such terms in section 2 of the Outer Continental 
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331).
(2) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the 
Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Interior, and the 
Secretary of State.
(b) Report on Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly submit to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee 
on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
report that includes the following:
(A) An identification and assessment of any 
existing transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs, 
including those covered by bilateral maritime boundary 
treaties and agreements, and any potential 
transboundary areas for future exploration, 
development, and production of hydrocarbons.
(B) An analysis of the legal frameworks established 
by relevant maritime boundary treaties and agreements, 
including provisions related to the equitable 
exploration, development, and production of 
transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs and mechanisms for 
resolving disputes, and their adoption by counterparty 
nations.
(C) An evaluation of the potential economic, 
environmental, and geopolitical implications of 
transboundary hydrocarbon exploration, development, and 
production, including impacts on domestic energy 
security, greenhouse gas emissions, and international 
relations.
(D) Recommendations for enhancing cooperation and 
coordination among the United States and neighboring 
countries in the exploration, development, and 
production of transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs, 
including mechanisms for information sharing, joint 
exploration, development, and production, and dispute 
resolution.
(E) Data and insights derived from recent 
collaborative efforts between the United States and 
Canada, such as seismic data collection, and an 
analysis of how such efforts can inform the delineation 
of maritime boundaries.
(F) An examination of unresolved maritime 
boundaries between the United States and Canada, 
particularly those involving potential transboundary 
hydrocarbon reservoirs, and an identification of 
potential legal and diplomatic avenues to resolve 
disputes over such boundaries, including the 
possibility of involving international judicial bodies 
such as the International Court of Justice or a chamber 
constituted by such Court pursuant to a special 
agreement between the parties.
(G) A review of existing data on the potential for 
shared exploration, development, and production of 
transboundary hydrocarbon reservoirs in disputed 
maritime zones between the United States and Canada, 
with recommendations for further studies or 
negotiations to address uncertainties and maximize 
joint exploration, development, and production 
opportunities.
(H) A comprehensive review of activities by 
neighboring countries, including Cuba, Mexico, Canada, 
the Bahamas, and Russia, regarding the exploration, 
development, seismic surveying, drilling, production, 
or any other activity related to transboundary 
hydrocarbon reservoirs, which such review shall include 
the status of any bilateral or multilateral agreements, 
an assessment of foreign exploration, development, and 
production efforts within transboundary zones adjacent 
to United States maritime boundaries, and an analysis 
of the potential implications of these activities for 
United States energy security, environmental impacts, 
and geopolitical considerations.
(2) Other requirements.--In preparing the report required 
to be submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall--
(A) prioritize the acquisition and use of advanced 
geophysical, geological, and geotechnical data and 
methods;
(B) acquire and apply new and emerging modeling and 
analytic technologies, including data analysis tools, 
quantum computing, artificial intelligence, modeling, 
and geographic information systems, to approximate the 
quantity and establish a peer-reviewed range of 
resources in each regional planning area with a 
discussion of the upper and lower bound of the 
estimates with that discussion to include 
recommendations as to how to reduce the range of 
uncertainty; and
(C) in partnership with other relevant Federal 
agencies, including the National Science Foundation, 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
and the Office of Naval Research, utilize any existing 
maritime vessels or deployed capability, including any 
geophysical, geological, or related mapping 
technologies.
(c) Standardization of Existing Reports.--Section 357 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15912) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by inserting ``, in consultation with other 
relevant Federal agencies and not less frequently than 
once every 5 years,'' after ``Secretary shall''; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``of Mexico and 
Canada'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d);
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Inclusions.--An inventory and analysis conducted under 
subsection (a) shall include the following:
``(1) An assessment of the approximate quantity of 
undiscovered resources in the Atlantic region, the Pacific 
region off the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, and 
Hawaii, the Alaska region, the Gulf of America region, and 
offshore of territories of the United States, which shall 
include the following:
``(A) A detailed analysis of how the future 
production of these undiscovered resources could 
influence the United States capacity to competitively 
produce, market, and export hydrocarbons on a global 
scale. Such detailed analysis shall consider key market 
variables such as global supply and demand dynamics, 
projected price points, geopolitical factors, and the 
role of United States production in maintaining global 
energy security.
``(B) An economic analysis of how the development 
and production of these undiscovered resources would 
affect domestic employment across the supply chain. 
Such economic analysis shall include direct, indirect, 
and induced job impacts, emphasizing the potential for 
job creation in exploration, production, refining, 
logistics, and associated industries.
``(2) An identification and assessment of how the 
unavailability for leasing of any lands that are withdrawn 
under section 12 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
U.S.C. 1341) or part of the National Marine Sanctuary System 
established by section 301(c) of the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431(c)) affects--
``(A) the exploration, development, and production 
of oil and gas;
``(B) national security, including the Nation's 
ability to supply the Armed Forces, its allies, and 
trade partners with products derived from offshore oil 
or gas;
``(C) domestic jobs and employment; and
``(D) the amount of revenue States and coastal 
political subdivisions receive pursuant to--
``(i) section 105 of the Gulf of Mexico 
Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 
note);
``(ii) the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
(established under section 200301 of title 54, 
United States Code); and
``(iii) division A of subtitle III of title 
54 (commonly referred to as the `National 
Historic Preservation Act').
``(3) An assessment, including identification of locations, 
of non-energy mineral resources for commercial or national 
security operations, including stone, sand, and gravel, and 
offshore critical minerals.
``(c) Updating Models.--
``(1) Assessment.--The Secretary shall, in consultation 
with the National Petroleum Council, the Society of Petroleum 
Engineers, and the United States Association for Energy 
Economics, periodically conduct an assessment of the costs, 
benefits, and accuracy of the models utilized by the Department 
of the Interior to conduct an inventory and analysis under 
subsection (a). The first assessment under this paragraph shall 
be conducted not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of the CORE Act of 2025, and subsequent assessments not less 
frequently than once every 10 years thereafter.
``(2) Updates and reports.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date on which the Secretary conducts an assessment 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior 
shall, based on such assessment--
``(i) update the models described in such 
paragraph and publish a report on such update; 
or
``(ii) publish a report on why an update to 
such models is not necessary.
``(B) Inclusions.--Each report published under 
subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
``(i) A clear, detailed explanation of any 
updates made to the models described in 
paragraph (1) or why updates were not 
necessary.
``(ii) An evaluation describing how any 
updates made under subparagraph (A) improve the 
accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and reliability 
of the inventories and analyses conducted under 
subsection (a).
``(iii) If any updates recommend by the 
National Petroleum Council, the Society of 
Petroleum Engineers, or the United States 
Association for Energy Economics are not 
incorporated, a detailed explanation of why 
such updates were not incorporated.''; and
(4) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary shall submit'' and 
inserting ``Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the CORE Act of 2025, the Secretary shall 
submit''; and
(B) by striking ``, within 6 months of the date of 
enactment of the section''.

SEC. 3. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION PRACTICES FROM OFFSHORE 
PRODUCING COUNTRY.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
not less frequently than once every 10 years thereafter, the Secretary 
of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the 
Secretary of Energy, shall publish on the website of the Department of 
the Interior and submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate a comparative analysis of the offshore oil and 
gas exploration, development, and production practices for each major 
offshore producing country. To the fullest extent practicable, such 
comparative analysis shall include the following:
(1) Data on--
(A) the number of offshore acres offered for lease;
(B) the frequency of lease auctions, sales, and 
lease issuances; and
(C) lease structures, fiscal terms, and the 
competitive positioning of each major offshore 
producing country relative to United States leasing 
practices.
(2) Detailed reporting on the volume of oil and gas 
produced (measured in barrels on an annual basis and cubic 
feet, respectively), including historical trends, production 
forecasts, and the influence of technological advancements on 
production efficiency and recovery rates.
(3) An accounting of regional market demands, export 
capabilities, and contributions to energy diversification 
strategies.
(4) An assessment, which shall be made in collaboration 
with the United States Geological Survey, of the volume of both 
undiscovered and discovered offshore oil and gas resources, 
including probabilistic estimates of resource volumes that 
consider geological, technological, and market factors 
impacting exploration, development, and production.
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